Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout
Northrop Grumman; Bell Textron · United States · first flew 2013 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter developed for the United States Navy, based on the Bell 407 airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unmanned helicopter airframe based on the Bell 407
- Single main rotor with a Rolls-Royce 250-C47E turboshaft
- Sensor payload for naval reconnaissance and targeting
A crewless Bell 407-type helicopter with a single main rotor, operated from Navy ships.
Specifications
- The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout has a length of 10.6 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.2 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 0.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed as the Fire-X from a Bell 407 with autonomous controls, it made its first flight on 31 October 2013. It reached initial operational capability in June 2019.
Variants
It follows the smaller MQ-8B Fire Scout and shares its software, avionics and payloads. It has about twice the endurance and three times the payload of the MQ-8B.
Where you'll see it
It is operated by the US Navy for reconnaissance, situational awareness and targeting from ships, and 38 were built.
Related aircraft
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